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The third film in the UNDERWORLD saga goes back hundreds of years to explain the origins of the feud between the vampire Death Dealers and the werewolf Lycans. Taking over directing duties from Len Wiseman is rookie Patrick Tatoupolos, known for his creature-designing duties in GODZILLA (1998), I AM LEGEND (2007), and the first two films in this series. Less an action-horror film than an old-fashioned "sword-and-sandal" film with monsters, RISE OF THE LYCANS finally gets to the root of why those vampires and werewolves really can't stand each other. Ruled by Viktor (Bill Nighy, VALKYRIE), the aristocratic, vampiric Death Dealers keep the wolflike Lycans as slaves. When a captive Lycan woman births a human boy, Viktor resists the urge to kill it, instead naming him Lucian and keeping him as a pet. Lucian (Michael Sheen, FROST/NIXON) grows up to be a blacksmith with the ability to change between human and wolf and begins a clandestine romance with Viktor’s daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra, DOOMSDAY). Viktor learns of this forbidden romance and takes drastic steps to ensure that Sonja will never be able to see Lucian again. Lucian, in retaliation, leads a Lycan slave revolt, resulting in an all-out assault on Viktor’s kingdom. Though viewers who have skipped the first two installments of the saga may feel a little left out when it comes to the mythology of the series, LYCANS hits the ground running and doesn’t allow much time for questions. While Sheen has been lauded for his work in more traditionally dramatic films, here he gives his all to every growl and battle cry. Mitra is an appealing presence as Sonja, and Nighy is visibly relishing the opportunity to glower in his blue contacts and chew the moonlight-bathed scenery.

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We're going to have to rate this third Underworld as AVERAGE(with the other two rating EXCELLENT with TWO THUMBS "WAY" UP). We are definitely fans of the Underworld films, but this release did not quite do it for us. Personally, I played it three times the first day we rented it and just could not get a feel for it(and couldnt even watch it 100% through). It offers a lot of the same graphics, special effects, and blood but the acting cast is just not the same. I think that is what kinda ruined it for us. We feel it couldve been ANOTHER Excellent Underworld if the same leading acting cast was in it, but this new cast just didnt do very well.
It was a toss up as to buying it or just renting it for $1.00. Being that we werent aware of the new cast, we were considering it, but after watching it, it was a $1.00 decently spent.
Rent It or Buy It? If yur a BIG Underworld fan, RENT IT first!
Our Overall Rating: 5 out of 10
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This Underworld Prequel was an absolutely astounding and very surprising piece of artwork. This film genre has truly taken hold since the first film came out. The Gothic timbre was totally top-notch. The film starts off with narration from our more familiar character Selene (Kate Beckinsale).
During the Dark Ages, the story begins by tracing the origins of a centuries old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the werewolves (Lycans). A young Lycan named Lucian (Michael Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle against the vampire supremacy and his struggle for Lycan freedom.
When the human son of a werewolf is born in a cell, the evil leader of the clan of vampires, Viktor, spares his life and names him Lucian. He then forces him to transform other humans into the new breed - Lycan, and raises him as a slave wearing a leash to control his ability. Lucian becomes a blacksmith as well as a brave warrior with respect as a leader over the other Lycans inside and outside the castle walls. He protects the aristocratic vampires against the vicious and infectious breed of werewolves who are incapable of taking human form. However, Viktor's daughter, Sonja, and Lucian are lovers who consumate their love without her father's approval. This will definitely be to her detriment. Lucian takes his collar off and and transforms into a werewolf to save the life of Sonja in a battle against the werewolves. However, Viktor sentences him to be brutally whipped thirty times and then imprisons him in the dungeon. Sonja saves Lucian and he escapes with other prisoners to the woods. When Viktor discovers that Sonja is pregnant and in love with Lucian, he locks her up in her room to force Lucian to return to the castle to rescue her, in the beginning of the feud between the two bloodlines. After it's all said and done, Viktor and the council commits Sonja to death. She is tied up and exposed to the sun, which basically turns her into a crispy critter.
I'll have to hand it to the costume and production designers of this film. I'm sure that they are more than proud of this profound peek into the dark side of fantasy film-making. Viktor (Nighy) is the main vampire in charge and he shows it with his bluish gleaming eyes. Lucian's friends include many such as Raze (Kevin Grevioux) and Kraven (Shane Brolly). Kevin Grevioux helped write the original 2003 Underworld story and is seen here again helping Lucian in prison. Younger versions of Lucian and Sonja are also in the film played by Alex Carrol and Olivia Taylforth.
Sonja (Mitra) is perfect in this film and Lucian (Sheen) is her love, almost akin to the tragic story of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but there is one problem. Lucian happens to be a Lycan while Sonja is a pure blood vampire.
I don't want to let you in on all the wonderful action in this film, but it is well worth the wait to see if you missed it a the theaters.
I'm going to give Rise of the Lycans a 5/5 mainly due to the great action, excellent editing, and a followable story-line. I hope that we can see another Sequel soon from the same directors. We already have Lucian signed up for an Underworld 4 and hopefully Bekinsale will be there as well.
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If you are a fan of either of the first two Underworld movies you are going to like this one as well. This movie seems to take place a short time after the creation of both races but some time before the events that open Underworld Evolution. The entire story of the feud between the vampires and lycans is told in 90 minutes with plenty of action interspersed throughout. My only complaint is that the movie could have been longer with more character development. An hour and a half is hardly enough time to tell a love story, which is what is at the heart of this movie. Also, a little more depth could have been given to Raze's character as his origins are shown but not in much detail. These plot points are sacrificed to keep the action scenes rolling but the action is great. There are several clashes between vamps and lycans that put those of the first two movies to shame. The special effects are amazing as usual. My hope is that Rise of the Lycans will do well at the box offices and we will all be treated to an extended directors cut on DVD. The plot themes of slavery, forbidden love, and revolution could use a little more screen time in my opinion. Oh and lets all hope for another sequel.

This prequel to Len Wiseman’s Underworld and Underworld: Evolution is distinctively different, especially minus the nimble vampire warrior star, Selene (Kate Beckinsale). Underworld: Rise of the Lycans takes its cues from the vampire/werewolf battles that occur in the other films, but director Patrick Tatopoulos focuses here on the young werewolf Lucian's (Michael Sheen) rise to leadership. Rise of the Lycans is set mostly within the walls of vampire lord Viktor’s (Bill Nighy) castle, so the film’s silver, black, and blue palette reflects a world happening under moonlight. From the outset, when Viktor brings Lucian, the first werewolf, into the world, this villainous bloodsucker’s daughter, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), is smitten with Lucian’s hairy appearance and instinctual intelligence. As years pass, Lucian grows tired of watching his race suffer slavery and imprisonment, and recruits a human named Raze (Kevin Grevioux) to assist rebellion. This archetypal plot is not so riveting, and what carries Underworld: Rise of the Lycans are the battle scenes between vampires and werewolves, which are excitingly fast-paced and brutal. The whole film adopts a medieval battlefield aesthetic that carries an otherwise clichéd story about illicit love and freedom fighting. Some characters, like the traitor vampire Tannis (Steven Mackintosh), also intrigues throughout, as one guesses who he will ally with. Underworld: Rise of the Lycans may not be the finest film in the werewolf and vampire archives independently, but its mixed monstrosity makes it unique and entertaining, especially on a big screen.

I'm so very glad the story was more focused on Lucian as it's a nice change from Selene and Michael being in the spotlight (not to mention Michael Sheen's arguably superior acting ability). As for Rhona Mitra, I won't say she was better than Kate Beckinsale but I can't say she was any less of an asset. Not only did she look great, but she executed her lines superbly. I will however say that I find Sonja's character much more interesting than Selene's. The chemistry between Lucian and Sonja was much better than that of the chemistry between Michael and Selene.
The story was much more intriguing, emotional and tragic than that of either of the previous two expeditions (this being of course subjective), as many who recall the flashbacks presented within will agree. It was also faithful to the material, and it's good that they didn't compromise for the sake of "improving" the story.
Overall, I can't think of another prequel that brought such raw emotion to the table, and regardless of the fact that Len Wiseman was not directing this one (though he was at the helm in other ways), you wouldn't know by watching it as it did a good job maintaining the same feel as the first two. The score also added to a lot of the emotion.